Meet Lidia.
Lidia and her husband Gary are a sweet couple who have enjoyed living a simple and relaxed life in Franklinton for six years. They spend their weekends together with family, just appreciating the reprieve from their hectic work week.
Their kids are grown and do not live in their home any longer, so they are now a little more comfortable with their daily living expenses than they were when raising a young family. But as they are both welders working regular construction jobs, they still rely on two incomes to keep their household running.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our area last March, both Lidia and Gary were immediately furloughed from their welding jobs. Their daughter was able to find work in Miami, FL, so to give their daughter the opportunity to provide for her family, Lidia and Gary took in Mila, their 5-year-old granddaughter to help.
It was truly a scary thought for Lidia, not knowing how long they would be out of work and wondering how long they might be able to continue to make ends meet. Their family has always been independent and able to make do. But now, not knowing when they would work again, she set to seek out the support she knew her family would need with the understanding that every little bit of help would mean a lot. She found Northshore Food Bank through a simple Google search to find the nearest food bank.
The Palma family first came to us in March and remained in the program through December when Lidia and her husband were both finally working their construction welding jobs again.
During their bimonthly visits, Lidia said the food boxes her family received ensured they had food to make meals. Her granddaughter received food boxes specially designed for kids, who were sent home from school during the pandemic. Once, while here making a regular food box pick-up, she even received a Chevron gas card which was a tremendous help having to travel from Franklinton to Covington to receive her food assistance.
Although admitting the need and taking the steps to receive food assistance may seem awkward or even embarrassing for anyone, Lidia said she was always greeted pleasantly and made to feel comfortable while making her regular Food Bank visits.
Today, Lidia feels fortunate that she and her husband are both working again and no longer need the support of the Food Bank. She also feels grateful that she found the Food Bank and knows that it is here for whoever else needs the services. She says, “I’m very grateful for everything I was given.”
